North Texas Catholic

1/15/2014

Bishop-elect Berg becomes the second Fort Worth Catholic priest in two months to be named a bishop by Pope Francis. On November 19, 2013, Rev. Msgr. Michael F. Olson, S.T.D., a priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth and most recently the rector of Irving-based Holy Trinity Seminary, was named the fourth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth by the Pope.

“I am humbled and deeply moved that Pope Francis has appointed me to be the next Bishop of Pueblo,” Bishop-elect Berg said. “I know Colorado to be a beautiful land of beautiful people and I look forward to serving the faithful of Pueblo as their shepherd in Christ. I eagerly anticipate our future as we grow and build our local church together.”

Bishop-elect Berg will be ordained and installed as Bishop of Pueblo on Thursday, February 27, 2014 by Denver Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila at a Mass in Pueblo. Archbishop Viganò will represent His Holiness Pope Francis at the ordination.

“The Diocese of Fort Worth is very proud and joyful that his Holiness, Pope Francis, has appointed one of our own to be the next Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado,’ said Bishop-elect Olson.

‘I personally am happy for Msgr. Berg and the Diocese of Pueblo. His ministry as pastor, vicar general and administrator of the Diocese of Fort Worth during the time of sede vacante (absence of a bishop in the diocese) has prepared him for his new assignment. At heart, Bishop-elect Berg is a good priest, a kind man, a true Christian and a wise leader.

‘I will miss him very much, as will all the priests in our Diocese. Yet, we should be consoled that Msgr. Berg is once again doing God's Will by answering Christ's call to serve the Church.

The Holy Father's appointment of Msgr. Berg is a statement of affirmation and confidence in the priests of the Diocese of Fort Worth.

“I ask my brother priests, deacons, religious, and all faithful Catholics to join with me in praying for Bishop-elect Berg and for the priests and people of the Diocese of Pueblo,” said Bishop-elect Olson, who will be ordained and installed as the Bishop of Fort Worth on January 29, 2014.

Msgr. Stephen J. Berg Biographical Summary

Bishop-elect Berg, 62, is a native of Miles City, Montana. He is the son of Conrad and Jeanne Berg and the oldest of 10 children. He attended Catholic schools in Miles City, graduating from Sacred Heart High School in 1969. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1973 and a Master of Music from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales in 1975.

Upon graduation, Bishop-elect Berg taught music at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth. Subsequently, he worked 14 years in the retail nursery industry as vice president or general manager for divisions of Sunbelt Nursery, Inc., owners of Wolfe Nursery, in Fort Worth, Southern California, Phoenix and Atlanta.

Bishop-elect Berg entered Assumption Seminary in San Antonio in 1993 where he received a Master of Divinity degree from Oblate School of Theology in 1999.

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1999 by his maternal uncle Bishop Joseph L. Charron, C.PP.S, S.T.D, now the Bishop Emeritus of Des Moines.

After his ordination, Bishop-elect Berg served as parochial vicar of St. Michael Catholic Church in Bedford, Texas from 1999 to 2001. In 2001, he became parochial vicar of St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills, Texas. From 2002 to 2008, he was pastor of four rural parishes: St. Mary in Henrietta, St. Jerome in Bowie, St. William in Montague and St. Joseph in Nocona. In 2008, Bishop Kevin Vann appointed him vicar general of the diocese and concurrently he served as pastor of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. In 2010, he became the Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Fort Worth under Bishop Vann and also served as administrator of Holy Name of Jesus parish. Upon the notice of Bishop Vann’s installation as Bishop of Orange, Bishop-elect Berg was elected diocesan administrator in December 2012 by the College of Consultors for the Diocese.

His Holiness Pope Francis on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 named Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Berg, 62, presently the diocesan administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Pueblo.

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